Further doubt was impossible. Some one had, indeed, locked the door on the outside.
"Great Heavens! what does this mean?" whispered Ernestine, really frightened now. "And all the servants are out. Ah, fortunately, Placide, one of Mlle. Helena's maids remained at home."
And rushing to the bell-rope, Mlle. de Beaumesnil pulled it violently several times.
Meanwhile Herminie had recalled the vague uneasiness the marquis had shown that afternoon when he alluded to the intimacy between Ravil and Macreuse, but though she was considerably alarmed herself she did not wish to increase Ernestine's terror, so she said:
"Don't be frightened, my dear; the person you rang for can explain what surprises you so much, probably."
"But she doesn't come, and this is the third time I have rung for her!" exclaimed Mlle. de Beaumesnil.
Then, trembling like a leaf, she added, in a whisper, pointing this time to the door which separated her chamber from Madame Laîné's':
"Listen. Oh, my God! don't you hear somebody walking about in there?"
Herminie made her a reassuring gesture, but Mlle. de Beaumesnil, after listening again for an instant, exclaimed with even greater terror:
"Herminie, I tell you I hear some one moving about! They are coming towards the door. Listen!"